CORONADO  U.S. Border Patrol agents took 15 suspected illegal immigrants into custody Friday morning after they crossed into the country by sea and may have used a phony distress call as a diversion, authorities said.

The boat came close to shore where the group disembarked and spread out onto the beach, Jimenez said. Agents believe that everyone who came ashore was apprehended.

About the same time the panga was spotted, authorities received a call that a boat with 17 people on board was either taking on water or had capsized. That was later determined to be unfounded, Jimenez said.

“We have nothing that confirms that report,” he said. “It might have been a call to throw us off.”

The panga was seized and inspected, and it did not appear to have any damage, Jimenez said.

Crews searched the shore and the water, and could find no one in the water.

Terrance Hodges, who works in area, said he saw agents handcuff several people on the sand north of the Hotel Del Coronado around 7:45 a.m. and then lead the group of men and women to a waiting van.

It appeared everyone in custody had been in the water, as they were wet, Hodges said.